Barri Bronston will hold a book signing for her new release “Walking New Orleans” noon Friday in the Tulane bookstore at the Lavin-Bernick Center. The book covers 30 different areas of New Orleans and includes self-guided walking tours, restaurant recommendations and plenty of history and culture.

Bronston grew up in New Orleans and is a former reporter and feature writer for the Times-Picayune. She now works at Tulane as the assistant director of public relations.

“Walking New Orleans” covers a variety of locations, including Mid-City, the Saenger Theater and Magazine Street, with a wide selection of suggested activities and restaurants.

The decision of what to include and leave out was, for Bronston, a struggle.

“It was one of the biggest challenges of the book,” Bronston said. “The idea was to give a sampling of the types of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops that can be found on any given route. I just couldn’t include everything.”

Bronston especially regrets the exclusion of Shaya, a modern Israeli restaurant on Magazine Street that opened after the book’s publication.

“I’ve been twice already, and it’s now one of my favorite restaurants and one of the most talked-about around town,” Bronston said. “If there is a second edition of the book, I can promise you Shaya will be included.”

It was important to Bronston that the book cover the effects that Hurricane Katrina had on New Orleans, so she included the Make It Right Foundation neighborhood in the Lower 9th Ward, as well as areas like Lakeview and Mid-City. Bronston also explored the Marigny/Bywater, a neighborhood that escaped flooding.

“[Marigny/Bywater] became somewhat of an ‘it’ neighborhood after Katrina because it escaped the flooding that destroyed so many other parts of town,” Bronston said.

Bronston covered more than 30 miles as she wrote the book, and she said the experience changed her perspective of her hometown.

“I gained a whole new appreciation for my city, especially as we approach the 10th anniversary of Katrina,” Bronston said. “There were those who questioned whether this city should even be rebuilt, but look at us now. We are better than ever.”